The Ladhak Odyssey

Part 1
Srinagar to Drass


Despite ongoing agitation in Srinagar we decided to reach Ladhak via Srinagar, our aim was to travel the famous National Highway 1 D and visit the famous townships of Kargil and Drass enroute.

In addition to that it was my long held desire to visit Kashmir and some agitation was not going to scare me from visiting a part of my own country.

Thankfully my other trip mates agreed with my sentiments.

So finally the D Day arrived and I caught the Goair flight to Delhi , landing at close to midnight pleasantly surprised to find my other trip mate Ashok waiting for me at the airport , his flight from Hyderabad has got delayed so instead of reaching hours before his flight reached Delhi around about the same time as mine.

We took a cab to Mahipalpur and took an accommodation for night there, our much anticipated flight to Srinagar was scheduled 6am next morning .

As a school going kid I had stayed in Mahipalpur years back when it was a quite village, now years later I was amazed at the change that has happened here , sadly for someone looking at nostalgia nothing around was familiar

Srinagar Airport

Beautiful house at the edge of the lake - taken from inside the lake

Lake traffic - nearing the main commercial region of the lake

Inside the gullies of the lake

That's Nishant bagh - didn't like the gardens much

Shikara ride what else

Due to recession keeping the job options open

The famous Hazratbal in its usual peaceful state

Living room of the houseboat

Trip mates - Ashok and Santhosh

On the way to Gulmarg

Its a beautiful place

Ah! the famous Gondola

nearing the top

Caught in a snow storm at the top (off course...

With Gulmarg behind me

Sonmarg Jumping base to Batalik Sector

Beautiful sonmarg or should I say sonamarg - 1000 times better than Gulmarg

some people are addicted to photography - I was still cosing up inside my sleeping bag - with temp in single digits thats the best thing to do or is it ?

On the way to the gateway into Batalik sec tor - Zoji La (pass) If i remmber correctly that's the Baltal region below famous for Amaranth yatra

First signs that we are nearing the treacherous pass

India gate - The scene of the famous Zoji La operation against pakisthan

Zoji La

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